the fourth: 2014

Posted on July 11, 2014July 31, 2014 by mommyinthemidwest

Huh, how about that. I guess I’ve never posted a 4th of July recap. Well, last year we were on a little weekend getaway for our 10th wedding anniversary but it wasn’t all festive with fireworks and that kind of crap.

So here’s my first real Independence Day recap. It was nice that the 4th was on a Friday which lent itself to a lovely, long weekend. Ryan’s parents live on a small lake that is perfect for relaxing, jumping off the dock, floating around, and taking pontoon boat rides. They invited us We invited ourselves to come and stay for the weekend. Ryan’s sister and her family were able to join us from Ohio as well.

Obligatory red, white, ‘n blue outfit pics.

I mean, could they be any sillier? No. Cuter? Never.

sillies Love them a lot.

They napped for HOURS every day.

Saturday was our 11 year anniversary so Nana and Pop Pop watched all three boys while Ryan and I enjoyed a rare double date with his sister and her soon-to-be husband. Dinner at FARMbloomington. farm

Their FARMfamous garlic fries. Oh. Wow. And their homemade chipotle catsup. Yes.

Our view from the “silo” table.

Neat sights at every turn in this one-of-a-kind restaurant.

Yep, even by the bathrooms.

Although it was a GORGEOUS night to walk around downtown Bloomington, which is lovely, we wanted to get back in time to enjoy the fireworks over the lake with the boys. Aunt ‘Chelle treated the boys with glow swords and glow bracelets –they may have been a bigger hit than the show.

After messing with my camera settings for five minutes before the actual show started, I gave up and put the camera down. I couldn’t figure it out and didn’t want to spoil the moment.

Sunday mornin’ cherry eating. Theo likes the “yellow cherries.”

Dexter prefers red.

There is a HUGE component of our weekend missing…. the LAKE and the sunshine that we were so lucky to enjoy all weekend. Seems like when we are all able to get together, we are cursed with cool temps or cloudy skies – or both. Not this time. Again, I chose to live in the moment and not take 500 pics. I had a drink in my hand and the sun on my skin and many long conversations with my sister-in-law. That was all I needed to make the weekend complete.

A few iPhone pics:

What’d you do for the Fourth?

xo,

~C~

sunflower fields forever

Posted on July 3, 2014August 1, 2014 by mommyinthemidwest

One of my co-workers has been telling me about her friend’s sunflower field for some time now so I finally decided to check it out after picking up the boys today. It was a little hot and a lotta buggy, but we had fun perusing the beautiful varieties and settled on 7 pretty flowers to take home with us. I thought I had six, but I miscounted — I owe someone $.34! Bonus – it was a quick, fun photography experience.

Theo wasn’t really into it — he was more interested in complaining about the bugs and trying to climb the fence to the cemetery.

Dexter liked helping me choose and snip flowers, then he would put them in the bucket.

Final bouquet. Total cost $2. (And $.34).

xo,
~C~

making memories – that’s what matters

Posted on June 23, 2014August 1, 2014 by mommyinthemidwest

I have been taking at least one picture a day since starting the Catch the Moment 365 photo project, but sometimes I will go almost a whole week before looking through the photos on my camera. Tonight I started feeling like I was getting way behind on sorting, deleting, and editing photos so I popped my memory card in the computer and starting scrolling through.

Now, I know that last Thursday was…well, just last Thursday. But my heart swelled a little and I got a little lump in my throat as I clicked through the pictures below. My mom drove 6 hours to visit my grandma then drove her another 2 hours in pouring rain and rush hour traffic to my house for dinner. Usually, we are visiting her so it felt like a treat and honor to have her in my home. This sweet lady turned 80 last week.

Their mutual joy… I almost can’t take it.

Our little visit was short and sweet. My grandma became a widow almost two years ago and while she is a healthy lady, it’s impossible to ignore the awareness that every visit with her is precious. I want my boys to remember her presence, be in pictures with her, and have sweet memories of her kind personality. When Ryan and I met, we had all 4 of our parents and 7 out of 8 grandparents. Now my grandma is ‘our’ only grandparent (and the boys’ only great-grandparent) and my dad is gone.

Life is so short. Celebrate. Say yes. The dishes can wait. Spend time together. I’m not going to remember the chores that didn’t get done…I bet you won’t either.

xo,
~C~